At the last meeting of the blueberry industry, held on April 11 in the context of the XXX International Berries & Cherries Seminar which took place at the Monticello Conference Center, the Chilean leaders of the industry showed their will and conviction to regain prominence and improve the positioning of the Chilean blueberry industry in the short and medium term.

At the Seminar, a round table was held with the participation of the president and the executive director of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, Ruy Barbosa and Andrés Armstrong, respectively, in which they addressed the current moment the company is going through. Chilean industry and the strategies that the organization is carrying out to regain positioning in the world market and return to the leadership positions that correspond to a consolidated industry, with extensive experience and knowledge regarding the crop.

Committee Support

“The scope of climate change, the advantages of new genetics, the high demands of consumers and the market, and the comparative advantages that each of us can develop, are variables and factors that each producer or each member of our industry must evaluate in their inner strength to be able to continue and regain prominence” declared Ruy Barbosa, president of the Chilean Fruit Blueberry Committee in the Conversation Panel: State of the global industry and projections of the international blueberry market, which was also made up of Ricardo Polis, general director for South America of Fall Creek and Andrés Armstrong, director of the Chilean Fruit Blueberry Committee.

"We as a Committee make all the information available and take all the steps to have access to the new genetics to support the industry to regain competitiveness, but each one must decide whether to continue with the current genetics or opt for changing varieties" added the top leader of the Chilean blueberry industry.

Ruy barbosa President Chilean Blueberry Committee Country Manager North Bay Produce
Ricardo Polís South America Regional Director Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, Inc.
Andres Armstrong Director of the Chilean Fruit Blueberry Committee
Photographer: Blueberries Consulting

An industry expert

Chile, for many years, led the international blueberry industry, positioned as the main exporting country in the world, gaining great experience and knowledge regarding cultivation and its management.

The development of agricultural technology and, above all, the great advance of genetic improvement, allowed other countries and regions to successfully produce blueberries in adverse and diverse conditions, spreading the crop throughout the world and exponentially increasing commercial competition in the markets. .

Chile was falling behind in its volumes and quality of fruit, surpassed by the best results of the new varieties grown by competing countries, especially Peru, which also has unsurpassed climatic advantages for the proper development of agro-fruit activity.

Recover leadership

At the International Seminar of Berries & Cherries from April 11, both the leaders of the Blueberry Committee and the Chilean specialists and actors in the blueberry industry showed renewed energy regarding recovering the lost positioning of the Chilean fruit and explored different scenarios that may offer them an opportunity to achieve it, including genetics. High Chill and the possibilities of mechanical harvesting for fresh fruit, among other variables.

The meeting was very interesting and participatory, approaching the activity in a comprehensive way, not only stopping at the agronomic and technical aspects of the crop, but also facing with great reality and energy the different alternatives to achieve greater profitability of the activity and return to occupy leadership positions at an international level.

Photography: Blueberries Consulting